Secretary of state races rarely lead the news, but in many states the secretary is the chief election official: the person who oversees voter registration, certifies results and writes the guidance local election offices follow. Since 2020, both parties have treated these offices as front-line positions.
About two dozen states elect a secretary of state on November 3, and roughly half of those seats are open. Because most secretaries serve four-year terms, the people elected this fall will run their states’ elections in 2028. This guide explains what the office does, which races forecasters consider competitive, and takes a closer look at Ohio’s open seat.
- In many states the secretary of state is the chief election official, overseeing registration rolls, ballot certification and statewide results.
- The job varies widely: some states run elections through bipartisan boards or commissions, and Alaska, Hawaii and Utah have no secretary of state at all.
- Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Sept. 9) rated Michigan and Indiana as Toss-Ups, with Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin also leaning one way rather than safe.
- Ohio: Treasurer Robert Sprague (R) faces former House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D) and Libertarian Tom Pruss for the seat Frank LaRose is leaving.
- Most winners serve four-year terms and will oversee the 2028 presidential election.
What a secretary of state actually controls
The title is the same across the country; the job is not. In states where the secretary is the chief election official, the office typically:
- Maintains the statewide voter registration system and issues rules for removing ineligible registrations.
- Certifies candidates and ballot measures for the ballot, often including the wording voters see.
- Issues guidance and directives to county or municipal election officials, who do the hands-on work of running polling places and counting ballots.
- Certifies or helps certify statewide results, often as one member of a state canvassing board.
- Runs public information: polling place lookups, ballot tracking and results websites.
What a secretary generally does not do is count ballots personally or decide who won. Counting happens locally, and certification is a legal duty set by statute, with courts available to enforce it. We explain that pipeline in After Election Day and in our guide to how votes are verified and certified.
Alaska, Hawaii and Utah have no secretary of state; the lieutenant governor oversees elections. Some states appoint their secretary rather than electing one. And in some states, including Wisconsin, elections are administered by a bipartisan commission, so the elected secretary of state has little or no role in running them.
Ohio: an open seat, Sprague vs. Russo
Ohio’s secretary of state is the state’s chief election officer and also chairs the Ohio Ballot Board, which writes the ballot language for statewide issues. Frank LaRose (R) is term-limited and running for state auditor. This year, his office certified the ballot language for Issue 3, the voter photo ID amendment.
Robert Sprague (R)
State treasurerOhio treasurer since 2019. Won the May 5 Republican primary with 70.2% over Marcell Strbich.
Allison Russo (D)
Former House minority leaderLed Ohio House Democrats from 2022 to 2025. Won the May 5 Democratic primary with 67.4% over oncologist Bryan Hambley.
Libertarian Tom Pruss is also on the ballot. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the race Leans Republican as of September 9. We have not found public general-election polling.
The races forecasters are watching
Sabato’s Crystal Ball, one of the few major forecasters to rate secretary of state contests, listed these as its most competitive as of September 9, 2026:
| State | Seat status | Sabato (Sept. 9) |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Open; Jocelyn Benson (D) is term-limited and running for governor | Toss-Up |
| Indiana | Open; Diego Morales (R) was not renominated | Toss-Up |
| Georgia | Open; Brad Raffensperger (R) ran for governor | Lean R |
| Ohio | Open; Frank LaRose (R) is term-limited | Leans R |
| Iowa | Paul Pate (R) seeking re-election | Leans R |
| Wisconsin | Open; Sarah Godlewski (D) is running for lieutenant governor | Leans D |
| Arizona | Adrian Fontes (D) seeking re-election | Likely D |
| Minnesota | Steve Simon (DFL) seeking re-election | Likely D |
| Nevada | Cisco Aguilar (D) seeking re-election | Likely D |
Several of these states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, were among the closest presidential states in 2024. In Michigan, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, the secretary of state is the chief election official. Wisconsin is the exception noted above. Check your state election office for the full list of candidates on your ballot.
Why 2026 sets up 2028
A secretary elected in November 2026 will typically take office in January 2027 and serve through the 2028 presidential primaries and general election. That includes setting rules for voter-list maintenance, mail-ballot procedures within state law, and how results are reported on election night. Governors and legislatures elected this year matter too, since they write the election laws secretaries carry out; we cover those stakes in statehouses as the midterms’ second battlefield and the nine governor’s races to watch.
Frequently asked questions
What does a secretary of state do in elections?
In many states the secretary is the chief election official, maintaining the voter registration system, certifying candidates and ballot measures, issuing guidance to local election offices and helping certify statewide results. Duties vary by state.
Which states have no secretary of state?
Alaska, Hawaii and Utah. In those states the lieutenant governor oversees elections.
Who is running for Ohio secretary of state in 2026?
State Treasurer Robert Sprague (R), former Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D) and Libertarian Tom Pruss. Incumbent Frank LaRose is term-limited.
Which secretary of state races are most competitive in 2026?
Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated Michigan and Indiana as Toss-Ups as of Sept. 9, 2026, with Georgia, Ohio and Iowa leaning Republican and Wisconsin leaning Democratic.
Will the 2026 winners oversee the 2028 election?
In most states, yes. Most secretaries of state serve four-year terms, so those elected in 2026 will be in office for the 2028 presidential election.
Secretary of state races are the closest thing on the 2026 ballot to a vote on who administers the 2028 election. They get a fraction of the attention of Senate races, and in several battleground states they may matter about as much.